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Best of January: 18 Top Things To Do in Westchester with Kids

Teatown Lake Reservation holds winter workshops for kids and families. Photo courtesy of the reservation
Teatown Lake Reservation holds winter workshops for kids and families. Photo courtesy of the reservation
12/30/22 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

From New Year's Day to MLK weekend and Lunar New Year, January is a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this month.

January offers tons of opportunities for spectacular family fun. Outdoorsy families can kick off the year with a first day hike, and there are plenty of other ways to get out in nature this month, including a workshop on how to make maple syrup in your backyard.

If the frigid temperatures have you hiding indoors, there are loads of great things to do at local libraries and museums, including celebrating the Lunar New Year, enjoying live animal shows, or even learning about the shape of snow on other planets. 

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.  

Get all our picks delivered to your inbox by signing up for our newsletters.

 

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Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit at the Westchester Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit at the Westchester Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

Top Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids This Month

First Day Hike at Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve

Cold Spring–FREE
Sunday, January 1, 2023
FREE
Choose from a 1- or 3-mile First Day Hike, and warm up with free hot cocoa, coffee, and snacks with fireside music. The shorter tour loops around Little Stony Point, while the longer excursion heads to the Cornish Estate. READ MORE

Family Science Workshop: The Snows of Other Worlds

Yonkers–FREE with museum admission
Saturdays & Sundays, January 7-29, 2023
Stop by this family science workshop on weekends in January to learn about the shape of snow on other planets. Also learn how to create a beautiful hanging snowflake display out of heavyweight translucent paper.  READ MORE

Full Moon Madness

Mt. Kisco
Friday, January 6, 2023
Visit the sanctuary for a midwinter night hike under the light of the full moon. Nocturnal wildlife abounds, including Great Horned Owls. After the hike, enjoy a dinner of hearty stew and bread and warm up with hot beverages like hot chocolate. READ MORE

Starlab: Indoor Planetarium

Cornwall
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Learn about constellations and stars and the Native American and Greek stories of how they were created in this inflatable planetarium.  READ MORE

Avian Art and Bird Walk

Ossining
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Early Childhood Art Educator Caroline Erb hosts an art session inspired by birds' beautiful plumage. Families are invited to take a short walk around the reservation to find some of the beautiful winter birds that frequent the area. Come to craft, but please dress for the weather.  READ MORE

Nature Discovery for 2s and 3s

Larchmont–FREE
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Join other families outside with your little ones to explore the joys of nature in the wintertime. Adventures might include studying animal tracks, noticing nests, identifying over-wintering animals, nature activities, and storytime. READ MORE

Music of Aretha Franklin for Kids

Port Chester
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Come dance and sing along to the music of Aretha Franklin. Rock and Roll Playhouse provides a fun and educational experience with games, movement, stories, and an opportunity fo rock out.  READ MORE

Poison & Venom with the Stamford Museum & Nature Center

Pound Ridge–FREE
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Learn about animals that use poison or venom to survive and even meet a few, including a tarantula. Guests can also learn about the venomous snakes in the area. READ MORE

Backyard Sugaring

Katonah–FREE
Saturday, January 14-Sunday, January 15, 2023
Kick off maple sugaring season by making maple syrup right in your backyard! Meet at Muscoot's Sugar Shack to learn about the equipment you need, identifying sugar maples in all seasons, the right way to tap trees, and how to turn sap from maples in your yard into syrup on your pancakes. READ MORE

Hop into the New Year (SOLD OUT)

Ossining
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Celebrate the year of the rabbit at Teatown with environmental educator Elissa Schilmeister. Participants will learn about lagomorphs, meet a few of them, and get creative with a craft. READ MORE

NYICFF Celebrating Black Stories

Pleasantville
Sunday, January 16, 2023
Vote for your favorite short films at the JBFC Kids Audience Choice Award. Audience members young and old have the opportunity to vote for their favorite shorts among Black stories. The picks highlight films that share the joy, determination, resilience, and complexity of being Black and young. Explore a range of genres and styles in a program that spans the globe. READ MORE

Celebrate Lunar New Year

Rye–FREE with museum admission
Monday, January 16, 2023
Learn about and celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with two workshops conducted by artist Lida Yang Zimmerman. Children can make paper lanterns, learn traditional Chinese paper cutting and folding to craft paper rabbits. READ MORE

Paper Marionette Workshop

Poughkeepsie
Monday, January 16, 2023
Learn the core principles of string puppet construction and performance, and use them to create an original character. The workshop is led by puppeteer, puppet builder, and arts educator Brad Shur, the founder and lead artist of Paper Heart Puppets. READ MORE

Lightwire Theater's Tortoise & Hare: The Next Gen

Pleasantville
Saturday, January 21, 2023
The performance begins with Aesop’s classic fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare" and fast-forward 10 years later to a time when personal connections and life experiences seem to be losing to modern-day distractions like smartphones and video games. With dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling, and music from classical to pop, this production brings this legendary tale into brilliant new light. READ MORE

Skate with Bluey

Larchmont
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Calling all Bluey fans! Come skate with the Bluey character during the public skating session at Hommock's Ice Rink. No reservations required and free with the price of admission.  READ MORE

My First Brain Quest

Poughkeepsie–FREE with museum admission
Monday, January 26, 2023
Join Togetherish Mom, Linsey Gatto for a reading and STEM activity that introduces children to science and STEM concepts as they appear in their everyday lives. READ MORE

All About Ice

Katonah
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Visit Muscoot Farm to learn about the importance of ice on a historical farm, followed by a hike to an ice pond and an ice-cutting demonstration. READ MORE

Super Saturdays: Weird Science with Professor Sparks

Hudson
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Come spend the morning exploring the science of fire with Professor Sparks and her robot canine companion, Spot 2000. After the program, do your own science experiment with Professor Sparks (supplies included with the program). This hands-on program is appropriate for children ages 5 and up. READ MORE

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